CHEVROLET C1500 · model year

1990 CHEVROLET C1500

25 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990CHEVROLETC1500 carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 C1500 is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 4 filings, followed by seat belts:front:buckle assembly (3) and seats (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 1990 C1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

25
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

25 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP4
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
SEATS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20090716EQUIPMENT

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 CHEVROLET C1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CABLE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE WAS CORRODED. AS A RESULT, THE TIRE FELL FROM THE VEHICLE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 206,000. UPDATED 08/04/09 *BF UPDATED 08/05/09.*JB

Mileage: 206,000

20070809STRUCTURE

1990 CHEVY C1500 1/2 TON STEPSIDE PICKUP TRUCK. GENERAL GRABBER AP TIRES. SIZE 235/75/R15 M+S MADE IN MEXICO OTHER NUMBERS ON TIRE:OK-47410 P5501 25855 021943. 147,300 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK, RIPPING FENDER MOUNTS OFF IN 4 PLACES, TEARING THE FUEL FILLER NECK FROM FUEL DOOR OPENING AND TEARING OFF THE GAS CAP. FIBERGLASS ON BOTTOM OF STEPSIDE FENDER WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. TRUCK WAS IN OTHERWISE GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 100 POUNDS OF CARGO; TIRE PRESSURES WERE VERIFIED TO BE 35PSI AT MOST 3 WEEKS EARLIER WITH NO LEAKS. PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WAS VERIFIED BY COMPARING TO SEVERAL OTHER GAUGES. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 127,445 MILES WHEN DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED. TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 144,000 MILES. SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AT ROADSIDE. BLOWN OUT TIRE IS STILL IN TRUCK BED. TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. *TR

Mileage: 147,300

20070809FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

1990 CHEVY C1500 1/2 TON STEPSIDE PICKUP TRUCK. GENERAL GRABBER AP TIRES. SIZE 235/75/R15 M+S MADE IN MEXICO OTHER NUMBERS ON TIRE:OK-47410 P5501 25855 021943. 147,300 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO TRUCK, RIPPING FENDER MOUNTS OFF IN 4 PLACES, TEARING THE FUEL FILLER NECK FROM FUEL DOOR OPENING AND TEARING OFF THE GAS CAP. FIBERGLASS ON BOTTOM OF STEPSIDE FENDER WAS HEAVILY DAMAGED. TRUCK WAS IN OTHERWISE GOOD OPERATING CONDITION. TRUCK HAD LESS THAN 100 POUNDS OF CARGO; TIRE PRESSURES WERE VERIFIED TO BE 35PSI AT MOST 3 WEEKS EARLIER WITH NO LEAKS. PRESSURE GAUGE ACCURACY WAS VERIFIED BY COMPARING TO SEVERAL OTHER GAUGES. TIRES WERE INSTALLED AT 127,445 MILES WHEN DEFECTIVE FIRESTONE TIRES WERE REPLACED. TIRES WERE ROTATED AND BALANCED AT 144,000 MILES. SPARE TIRE WAS INSTALLED AT ROADSIDE. BLOWN OUT TIRE IS STILL IN TRUCK BED. TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED YET. *TR

Mileage: 147,300

20060307STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

THE SERPENTINE ACCESSORY BELT STARTED TO FAIL. AS IT DID, PARTS OF IT WHIPPED THE HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING HOSE RUPTURING THE HOSE. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. SHE NEEDED MY HELP TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS NOT TOTALLY BROKEN. I HAD THE OLD BELT UNDER THE SEAT SO I SWAPPED IT FOR THE BELT THAT WAS FAILING. WITH MY HELP, WE WERE ABLE TO PULL OFF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND MAKE IT TO A AUTO PARTS STORE TO REPLACE THE HOSE. THE FAILURE OF THE POWER STEERING HOSE DUE TO AN INCOMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SERPENTINE BELT IS INEXCUSABLE. GM SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SHIELD THE POWER STEERING HOSE FROM A SERPENTINE BELT FAILURE. IN MY EXPERIENCE, SERPENTINE BELTS DO NOT FAIL CATASTROPHICALLY. THEY MAKE NOISES AS THEY START TO FAIL GIVING ADEQUATE TIME TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. IN THIS CASE, WE HEARD THE NOISE OF THE BELT FAILING. BEFORE WE COULD IDENTIFY THE NOISE AS COMING FROM OUR VEHICLE AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THE POWER STEERING FAILED.

Mileage: 160,000

20040706SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT APPROX 30 MPH, STOP LIGHT CHANGED TO RED AS I APPROACHED. WAS CLOSE TO INTERSECTION, PRESSED HARD ON BRAKE PEDAL AND IT STARTED SLOWING VEHICLE, THEN AFTER ABOUT .5 SECONDS, PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WITH MINIMAL BRAKING AT THAT POINT. DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE, AS SPEED WAS LOW ENOUGH THAT WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE HYDRALIC SYSTEM STOPPED VEHICLE. AFTER LIMPING VEHICLE HOME (WAS ONLY 3 BLOCKS FROM THERE), INSPECTION UNDER VEHICLE REVEALED STEEL BRAKE LINE RUBBING AGAINST FRAME RAIL JUST BEHIND FIREWALL, WHERE LINE TUCKS INTO FRAME RAIL, CAUSING WEAK SPOT THAT FAILED UNDER PRESSURE. REPAIRS NOT MADE YET, AS INCIDENT JUST OCCURED, WILL NEED NEW STEEL BRAKE LINE FROM ABS CONTROL TO REAR AXLE. CAN SAVE OLD PART. *JB

Mileage: 177,245

20030428FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

GAS TANK LEAKING DUE TO CONTACT WITH RETAINING STRAPS. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES ENGAGES BY ITSELF WITHOUT INPUT OR ACTION.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****752237. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

20030428VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

GAS TANK LEAKING DUE TO CONTACT WITH RETAINING STRAPS. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL SOMETIMES ENGAGES BY ITSELF WITHOUT INPUT OR ACTION.**** DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****752237. *AK

Mileage: 93,000

20020802EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME HEAD LIGHT COVERING HAS BECOME TRANSLUCENT (FADED-YELLOW) TO WHERE LIGHT DOESN'T PASS THROUGH 60-70% WHEN USED. IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. THEY ARE LEXAN LENSES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DESCRIBE. *AK

20010423STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

STEERING WHEEL HAD COME LOOSE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER WHO TIGHTENED WHEEL, 1 YEAR LATER STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AGAIN.*AK

20000302SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS BROKEN, CAUSING THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER MAKES THE PARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *ML

19990729SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

REPORTING NOW BECAUSE I HAVE BRAKE WARNING LITE AND NO APPARENT REASON FOR IT. FIRST AND SECOND FAILURES OF ISO VALVE WERE NOT LOSS OF BRAKES, ONLY A SQUISHY FEELING. I NOTE A CURRENT RECALL ON 91-96 GM UNITS THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. NEED ADVICE ON HOW TO ATTEMPT RECOVERY OF OVER $500 WORTH OF REPAIRS THAT I PAID FOR WHICH NOW APPEAR TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AND I NOW HAVE A BRAKE WARNING LITE WHICH MAY BE THE SAME ASSEMBLY GOING BAD AGAIN!. NOTE RECALL IS LIMITED TO 91 TO 96 UNITS AND I AM A 90. NEVERTHELESS I WANT TO TRY. DEALER HAS BEEN SERVICE HAS BEEN EXCEPTIONAL. NO COMPLAINT AGAINST THEM.

19990701SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT BUCKLE PRPERLY.WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT SYSTEM AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

19990622POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THERE IS A RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE, CONSUMER'S VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID IS SPRAYING OVER THE WHOLE UNDER HOOD AND VEHICLES THAT TRAIL BEHIND.

19990213POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

REAR END LOCKED , ALMOST ACCIDDENT BUT NO OTHER CARS IN OTHER LANE AT THE TIME!

19980615SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINE UNDERNEATH IS TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO HEAT UP AND OVERHEAT THE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19980615SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. ALSO, THE BRAKE LINE UNDERNEATH IS TOO CLOSE TO EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THIS CONDITION IS CAUSING THE BRAKE FLUID TO HEAT UP AND OVERHEAT THE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKE FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

19980430SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

BOTH PASSENGERS' MIDDLE SEAT AND DRIVER'S SEAT BELTS WILL NOT STAY ENGAGED IN THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY, CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BE INOPERATIVE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE.

19971003SEATS

THE LEFT MOUNTING BOLT, THAT ATTACHES THE HIGH BACK TO THE SEAT, HAS SHEARED OFF THREE TIMES, RECALL REPAIRS REFUSED FOR YEAR AND MODEL.

19970602STRUCTURE:BODY:TAILGATE

TAILGATE: WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY THE TAILGATE JUST COLLAPSED. WHEN CLOSING THE GATE IT IS SECURE, BUT WHEN DRIVING IT JUST WORKS ITSELF LOOSE AND FALLS DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE IN AND DEALER TOOK IT APART, BUT COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AK

Compare 1990CHEVROLETC1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 CHEVROLET C1500 have?
The 1990 CHEVROLET C1500 has 25 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 CHEVROLET C1500?
The most-complained component for the 1990 CHEVROLET C1500 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY and SEATS.
Is the 1990 CHEVROLET C1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.